Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in Illinois

More than 50% of psychiatrists use CBT techniques in their practices. So, in theory, accessing this form of therapy shouldn’t be too tricky.

However, you still want to make sure your therapist is trustworthy and sees you as a whole individual—personal struggles, skills, substance use history, mental state, and all.

Read on to learn more about this specialized therapy and why you should trust Illinois Recovery Center with your CBT interventions.

Trusted Provider of Specialized Therapies in Illinois

Illinois Recovery Center (IRC), conveniently located on Caseyville Avenue in Swansea, is a licensed and accredited provider of behavioral health care services, including CBT.

We’ll go over how IRC’s interventions can help you on your journey in more detail. But first, let’s check out an overview of CBT.

Understanding CBT

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of talk therapy commonly applied in rehab centers. If you’re already familiar with its goals, formats, and time commitment, you might want to skip this overview.

What Is the Basis for CBT?

CBT is based on the theory that our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all connected. Negativity in any of those points can trap a person in a vicious cycle.

Changing the way you think (the cognitive aspect of CBT) and behave (the behavioral aspect of CBT) can help break the cycle.

What Are Its Goals?

CBT is a goals-based psychotherapy approach. And we’ve already covered that the main goal is to change the way you think and behave.

But because CBT has a wide range of applications (we’ll cover its uses in a minute), the exact goals may vary from one patient to another.

However, the typical goal list usually includes:

• Teaching the person to identify negative behaviors and thought patterns.
• Finding ways to challenge these negative behaviors and thought patterns.
• Developing positive coping mechanisms.

Just note that you need realistic, measurable goals for CBT to work. Completing milestones will help you progress even further in your treatment plan.

Who Is It For?

CBT can be used to help with psychological, mental, and emotional problems, such as:

• Substance use disorders (SUDs)
• Depression, including treatment-resistant and postnatal depression
• Anxiety disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Bipolar disorder

At Illinois Recovery Center, we offer CBT in both addiction treatment and dual diagnosis programs.

How Does It Fit into Substance Abuse Treatment Plans?

CBT is used a lot in rehab programs, and it actually fits really well into most plans.

The typical plan will include detox to tackle the withdrawal symptoms, group therapy to help provide peer support, and maybe even medication for curbing the cravings.

The CBT aspect, however, addresses the thoughts and behaviors that fueled the addiction in the first place.

What Are Its Core Elements?

CBT involves treatment elements like motivation, operant learning (behavior modification through consequences), and skill-building interventions.

What Therapy Formats Does It Follow?

CBT interventions can be delivered in a one-on-one format, group settings, or a combination of both.

There’s no “right” or “wrong” format here. Your therapist or counselor will see which is more beneficial for your case and discuss the options with you.

For instance, CBT and motivational interviewing (MI) are often integrated for substance abuse treatment. MI is typically offered as an individual, brief treatment episode. In this case, behavioral health professionals may choose to implement CBT in group therapy.

How Many Sessions Does It Take?

For the most part, CBT is a short-term treatment option, lasting 5–20 sessions.

The duration depends on the condition, symptom severity, presence/absence of a support network, and overall stressors. How much you commit can also affect the duration, as well. After all, a therapist/counselor may give you “homework” as a practice between sessions.

In some cases, however, long-term CBT is needed. Those with depression that doesn’t respond fully to antidepressants, for instance, might need years-long therapy.

What Is the Overall Process Like?

CBT may take fewer sessions than other types of therapy, but it has to be structured.

If you’re doing CBT for an alcohol/drug addiction, the structure and process will be tailored to your specific needs. But the main phases you’ll go through are:

• Initial Assessment. This is when your therapist tries to understand your addiction and how it affects the way you think and behave. Open up and talk about your troubles. The desired outcome here is that you become aware of your issues.
• Reconceptualisation. During the stage, your therapist shows you how to think and view your addiction in a new way. You want to challenge your old thinking patterns.
• Skill Acquisition. Changing your thought patterns alone might not cut it. You may need to acquire the skills and coping mechanisms to avoid problematic behaviors.
• Application Training. This phase is a chance to apply your newly acquired skills in a safe, low-risk environment.
• Generalisation. Once the therapist trains you, they take you through more general applications and make sure you can maintain your skills and positive thought patterns.
• Following Up. This post-rehab stage allows therapists to reassess, helping you maintain long-term sobriety.

Is It Effective?

Several large-scale trials and reviews support the use of CBT for addiction treatment.

Research shows that it’s particularly helpful for treating use disorders associated with cannabis, cocaine, and opioids. In fact, one study focused on the psychosocial treatment of cocaine dependence. In 52 weeks, 60% of patients receiving CBT were clean.

CBT is also reportedly as beneficial as behavioral couples therapy (BCT) for cases of alcohol addiction. However, CBT is a more cost-effective option.

Even people with poly-substance dependence can benefit from CBT, but to a smaller degree.

And substance use disorder treatment aside, evidence shows that CBT is effective for managing a number of mental health conditions.

For one, 43% of patients who received high-intensity CBT (along with antidepressants) for treatment-resistant depression showed improvement, compared to 27% from those who didn’t receive CBT at all.

Studies also highlight the long-term efficacy of CBT for treating generalized anxiety disorders, with a recovery rate of 57% to 77%!

Why Choose CBT at Illinois Recovery Center

Every program at IRC is designed with the intention to heal and support people on their path to recovery. Our CBT interventions are no exception.

We Follow an Individualized Approach

Understanding the heterogeneity of substance use disorders is a key aspect of CBT. Even though addiction can cause some common issues, it doesn’t mean that every patient can be treated the same way.

For CBT to be effective, healthcare professionals need to acknowledge the different social and environmental factors at play. It’s also important to recognize any mental health conditions that may create skill deficits and barriers to recovery.

At Illinois Recovery Center, we’re aware of this heterogeneity. Our therapists recognize the uniqueness of each person who walks through the door, and they understand that the one-size-fits-all approach doesn’t work for CBT—or other therapy modalities, for that matter.

We also offer dual diagnosis treatment for those who suffer from addiction and co-occurring mental health issues. Our health care professionals use a combination of behavioral therapy sessions, medications, and peer support to help patients overcome the existing barriers.

Our Facility Is Serene, Comfortable, and Spacious

Our mission is to eliminate drug and alcohol abuse in our community, and that requires providing patients with all they need to recover—be it medication, access to therapy, resources, or a safe, comfortable space for recovery.

The campus-style Illinois Recovery Center is built on a 12-acre lot in Swansea, providing a state-of-the-art rehab center for our patients to attend their CBT sessions.

And those who are doing CBT as part of our inpatient program get access to a 50,000+ sq ft. facility designed to provide a home-like experience with plenty of amenities.

Want to take a closer look at the place? Take a virtual tour of our facility.

You’ll Receive Behavioral Therapy From Compassionate, Qualified Staff

One of our strong points at IRC is our exceptional staff. We’ve assembled a team of behavioral health care professionals dedicated to providing compassionate and comprehensive care, from detox and therapy to aftercare planning.

Our clinical director of outpatient services is Jeff Brenneman, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Brenneman is nationally certified in DBT. However, he also integrates CBT into the center’s programming.

The IRC team also includes Licensed Clinical Professional Counselors (LCPCs).

We’ll Help You With the Financial Aspects

Money is perhaps the number one reason people hesitate to go to therapy. After all, covering the cost of psychotherapy can seem like a burden for many folks, especially if their financial situation is already strained due to substance abuse.

At IRC, we want to make recovery as accessible as possible for everyone who needs it. That’s why we accept health insurance from many major providers.

We also do confidential (HIPAA-protected), zero-commitment benefits verification.

And because we understand the frustration of searching for therapy providers, our insurance verification is fairly quick. In most cases, our team responds to the request within a few hours.

The detailed benefits check will show you:

• Whether our center is in-network on your plan.
• Whether you need documentation or pre-authorization for CBT.
• Your deductible, copayment, and coinsurance.
• Whether there’s a coverage cap for therapy sessions.
• Estimates of any out-of-pocket costs.

Our admissions navigators are also happy to explain your options better.

Side Note: Completing a verification of benefits for behavioral therapies with us doesn’t affect your coverage or premiums in any way.

FAQs

Get the Most Out of CBT With Illinois Recovery Center

To get the most out of your CBT sessions, you need to think of therapy as a partnership; openness and honesty will go a long way.

But, of course, opening up and facing your past conflicts is never easy. Having the right therapist by your side can make it all a bit lighter and more productive.

If you want to know more about choosing the right provider or have any questions about the CBT process, give us a call. We’re here 24/7 to answer your questions—no commitment and no judgment.